The Indiana State sentinel., 1887-12-14
TEN YEARS In PRISON
Harper Convicted and Gets the Full Extent
Of the Law in His Sentence.
The Jury Find him Guilty as Indicted
Judge Sage Sentences the Prisoner I'M
mediately-Of for Columbus.

crowd yet gathered in the corridors OF the |
United States Court room, assembled this |
morning long before the time ior the as |
sembling of the Court. 1t was simply |
impossible for ladies to get in at the public |
door and only those who had friends to
show them the private entrances could
reach the court room. At 10 O'Clock Judge
Sage appeared alone, Judge Jackson having
been. called to hold court in Covington.
Court was opened and seven minutes later
the jury filed in. AS soon as they were
seated, Judge Sage asked if theyrhad agreed
upon their verdict, and the foreman said
they had. The Judge directed the Clerk to
receive il.
At this point Mr.. Blackburn called the
Courts attention to the absence of the de-
fendant. LET him be brought in" said
the Judge. In two minutes Marshal Ur-
ner entered, followed by Mr.. Harper, look
ing pale and concerned. Behind him came
his wife, her face study. 1t looked as If
she was upborne by faith that in some
way she was to hear good news from that
jury. Miss Matthews, her sister, followed,
as calm as she could compose herself to be.
When they were seated, the Clerk took the
sealed envelope enclosing the sentence,
tore it open, and read the fatal words:
I'VE the Jury find the defendant guilty as
| charged in the Indictment" This means
| guilty on all the thirty-three counts left
for the jury to act upon. There was no
outcry from either of the women. Mrs.
| Harper sat as if transfixed, bnt Miss Mat
/ tbeWs found relief in tears, which she
struggled with all her power to repress.
| Mr.. Blackburn moved an arrest OF ludg-
ment which the court instantly over
ruled. Then District Attorney Burnet
| moved for immediate sentence, and that
the sentence be cumulative.
| Judge Sage, in somewhat lengthy opin-
ion, stated the result of his investigation
on the question of cumulative sentences
/ in case like this, and this gave some re-
lief to the suddenness of the blow upon
hr. Harper's family. He finally over
ruled the motion and asked IL the defend
ant had anything to say before sentence
was pronounced upon him.
Mr.. Blackburn arose and said that the
| defendent wished to speak through him,
and TO say that he had nothing to add to
what had been said, except to thank the
court for its fair and impartial treatment,
and to ask that the court be as merciful as
the circumstances and the law would per-
NIT.
At 1925 the Court directed Harper to
stand up. It was most distressing scene.
The strong man stood erect with tears
coursiDg down his cheeks, but no other
sign of emotion, save his blanched face.
Behind his chair, with bowed head, sat his
wife in an agony that had no better mani
festation than the wringing of her hands.
Tears did not come to her relief. Miss
Matthews, far more demonstrative, still
repressed sobs, and in her own distress
reached over to try to comfort her sister
by touch. So they sat, while the court,
with impressive solemnity, recited the
usual form of sentence, saying the evidence
left no doubt of the defendants guilt and
that the offense merited the highest penalty
OF the law, which the Court would now
impose, ten years in the Ohio penitentiary,
and that the Marshal convey him thither
at once.
Still no outcry. Mr.. Harper sat down,
turning to his wife. Their lips met, her
hands were around his neck, his arms en-
circled her. The silence in the court room
was awful. Jurors wept, women and men
all over the court room were In tears.
The silence was broken by Mr.. Black
burn making a last request from the court.
That was that the order of immediate inn
prisonment be suspended, and gave as q
reason that there was much business to be
attended to by Harper in which his wife
was closely concerned, and it would be
exceedingly difficult to attend to it unless
Mr.. Harper could remain here for few
days. But the court was relentless. Judge
Sage said there would be opportunity for
his wife to see him in Columbus, and he
repeated the order to the Marshal to con-
vey him thither to-day.
AT 10:30 the jury was discharged, and
Marshal Urner conducted the defendant to
the Marshars office.
After the scenes in the court room, Har-
per and his family spent some time in the
MarshaPs Office, and then went to the Jail,
where he spent the afternoon in his room
preparing for his departure. The bedding,
his trunk and other property were taken
out and sent to his house. His family
joined him, and he bade them goodbye.
Mrs. Harper fingered after the others had
departed, and her farewell was spoken to
him alone. A moment afterward he ap-
peared as unmoved as ever. Shortly before
o'clock carriage appeared at the Jail in
to which Harper and Deputy Marshals
Kiersted and Costello entered and were
driven to the Central Passenger depot, pass
ing on the way his late residence on Fourth
street. There was a small gathering Of
people there TO see him enter the train but
the deputies avoided the front entrance by
going down John street and entering the
depot from the west end. He was placed
in parlor car of the Midland train, in the
smoking compartment and the curtains
drawn. Here Miss Matthews Joined him,
accompanied by her father and her brother.
a crowd gathered about the car and wait
ed until the train moved out OF 4:05. 1t
has all been done rapidly. The trial began
two weeks ago tomorrow. No time was
lost in argument; the verdict was given at
1925 and at :05 the great head OF the once
famous Fidelity bank was on his way to
the Ohio Penitentiary at Columbus.
COLUMBUS, o., December 1.-THE first
chapter in the great Chicago wheat deal
and the Fidelity bank wreck was con-
cluded tonight In the arrival Of Edward
L. Harper at the Ohio peniteutiary for q
term of ten years. He came with many
of the surroundings and as much of noto-
riety as attaches to the arrival of a more
than ordinarily distinguished criminal
The stations along the way between
Columbus and Cincinnati were
| graced by interested crowds
| who made their wants known as
the train stopped and they expressed de-
; sire to see Harper. In this. however, they
were not gratiged, as the prisoner aud his
deputies occupied seats in the smoking
apartment of the chair car, and with blinds
drawn reached the Columbus depot with
out the annoyance of curious eyes Mr..
harper was welcomed to Columbu by an
audience Of about 200 who had gathered
at the depot, and crowded in to get the
first sight of the great financier. These
consisted mainly of bank clerks and q
number of ladies,
The party proceeded at once to the din
ing room Of the depot, where Harprr wes
Hanked by his wife and her sister on
] aiffer sfdo and the prieOuer AZ once order.